Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

How a mistaken Alzheimer’s diagnosis proved deadly

Lyme disease is growing across the country. Testing for it is often inaccurate. And if not caught it in time, it could prove debilitating or deadly. That’s what one family discovered when their father was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s before the truth came out…

Carolyn Gretton

Low thyroid? Keep these 9 foods on your radar

If you’re suffering from unexplained weight gain, fatigue, thinning hair, stiff or painful joints, memory issues and increased sensitivity to cold, you may want to get your thyroid checked. Chances are, you’re suffering from low thyroid. Then take a good look at what you’re eating…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why are tomatoes being genetically modified with vitamin D?

In this day and age, it’s hard to believe a vitamin deficiency could be at the root of many of the significant health problems we face. But more and more research says it is, from heart problems, to autoimmune disease and even Alzeimer’s. But is the answer in tomatoes?

Carolyn Gretton

How your eyes can influence your longevity

So many of the body’s systems are interconnected and influence each other. For instance, the gut has been found to influence mood, immunity and dementia risk. Knowing this, researchers were still surprised by the connection they found between lifespan and our eyes…

Joyce Hollman

Cognitive decline and aphasia: How singing can help

Cognitive flexibility is a key component of executive functioning, and group singing provides an opportunity to “exercise” the portions of the brain that control this crucial function. In fact, singing may be an enjoyable and effective way to boost your brain function…

Carolyn Gretton

Your immune system is aging faster and here’s why

The body’s immune system tends to grow weaker as people age. But as the aging population grows, something stands out. In some people, this aging seems accelerated. Why? A not-so-surprising difference that makes it hard for your immune system to do its job…

Carolyn Gretton

More proof a vitamin D deficiency spells dementia

As the world’s population ages, dementia is on the rise. Researchers, feverishly hunting for anything that can stop this cognitive destroyer in its tracks, have found new evidence further indicating that preventing dementia could be as simple as correcting one key deficiency…

Joyce Hollman

More than 100 health conditions increase with height

There are many instances where being tall may be considered an asset. Reaching the top shelf at the supermarket is just one. But you should know, being on the taller side is considered a non-modifiable risk factor for several health conditions you should watch for…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The surprising way an entire family got lead poisoning

What if I told you that you could be unknowingly serving up a dangerous substance in your home every day that could poison your body, cause behavior and learning problems in your children and skyrocket your risk for heart disease? This is how it happens…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘new and improved’ treatment that slows AMD

Age-related macular degeneration is a disease that progressively steals vision. There’s no cure, but the main treatment slows progression to avoid severe vision loss. And as effective as it was, researchers have kicked it up several notches with two new sight-saving ingredients…

Carolyn Gretton

The sweet news about sugar in your coffee

There’s no doubt that coffee’s health benefits are backed by plenty of research. But the caveat has been to avoid the cream and sugar to reap them. Of course, you want the benefits — but you want to enjoy your coffee too. Here’s some good news on that front…

Carolyn Gretton

How time of day (and sex) affects your exercise results

Exercise is so good for us experts tell us to do it whenever we have the time. But depending on what your goals are — less tummy fat versus more upper body strength or better blood pressure and cholesterol — your exercise timing makes a huge difference…

Carolyn Gretton

The lowdown on skin cancer: Types, treatment and staying safe

More Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than for all other cancers combined. But skin cancer is still shrouded in mystery, misconceptions and doubt. Let’s take a look at the main types, how to identify them, what to expect and how to stay safe.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Proline: Why this amino acid causes depression for some

More than 37 million Americans now take medications for depression. And for far too long experts focused on chemical imbalances in the brain these drugs treat. But another imbalance is proving just as powerful at affecting your mood. And the medicine is much easier to swallow…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Strange link: Dietary cholesterol and viral infection

Specific limits on dietary cholesterol were lifted from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans back in 2015. But that move may have been too hasty. Turns out there’s an odd connection between dietary cholesterol and your susceptibility for viral infection…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How breast cancer and diabetes feed off each other

As scientists will say, just because there seems to be a link doesn’t mean there is, especially without proof. But now, when it comes to diabetes and breast cancer, they’ve got the proof connecting cancer’s sweet tooth and a dangerous feedback loop…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A doctor’s list of 6 diseases a plant-based diet benefits

Have you ever noticed something strange when you go to your doctor? No matter what your health problem, their answer is always in a pill. But physicians everywhere are being put on notice by one of their own — and she’s got a better prescription with lots of clout…

Joyce Hollman

10 surprising things that cause hair loss

Aging is not automatically accompanied by hair loss. But there are lifestyle and other factors that could cause you to see more hair in your hairbrush than you’re used to. I was surprised to find that several of these may be behind my own hair loss.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

4 movements that really help you “go”

I had a problem with constipation for years. Whatever the cause, going to the bathroom was my nemesis. I would go days without “going” and then when I did, the strain was awful. After many, MANY doctor’s visits, and getting no help, I decided there had to be a better way. And, I found it…

Carolyn Gretton

Atrial fibrillation: A reason to work harder to avoid dementia

Atrial fibrillation can raise your risk of several heart and circulatory issues, including heart failure and stroke. But what’s been less clear is whether AF increases the risk of dementia not caused by stroke. So far, this is what they’ve found…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The serious blood clot risk that comes with prostate cancer

People with cancer are known to have a higher risk of dangerous blood clots known as venous thromboembolism or VTE. These clots are a leading cause of death in people with cancer. Because prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, this is a risk they need to be aware of…

Jenny Smiechowski

The antioxidant that protects your brain’s barrier

Inflammation is a huge factor when it comes to Alzheimer’s. It’s triggered by a build-up of proteins that kill your brain cells. And it may cause the build-up in the first place. One thing’s for sure, inflammation causes the disease to progress quickly and severely.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Quantified: How much type 2 diabetes ages the brain

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t just spell problems for your blood sugar. It acts as a gateway disease in many respects. And while there have been concerns about its connection to cognitive decline for a while, you may be surprised to learn how much diabetes ages the brain…

Carolyn Gretton

The real reason ‘bad’ cholesterol increases during menopause

When women undergo menopause, they experience a decline in estrogen that kicks off a host of unpleasant symptoms. But what has been less clear is estrogen’s specific role in heart disease risk, and how the “change” is connected to cholesterol, until now…

Joyce Hollman

The medication increasing inflammatory bowel disease in people over 60

Most people that develop inflammatory bowel disease do so by the age of 30. But IBD is on the rise — and it’s targeting a vulnerable population: folks aged 60 and older. IBD is painful, difficult and debilitating. And if you’re a senior, the risks are even higher…

Carolyn Gretton

What gout and heart failure have in common

Gout has been established as a risk factor in certain cardiovascular conditions, including stroke and heart attack. But what about heart failure? Exploring a potential link between these two conditions may offer heart failure patients a new lifeline…

Joyce Hollman

Why the mercury in fish may not be so bad

We’ve been warned to avoid eating much fish over concerns about mercury. But now, Canadian researchers say the chemical form of mercury consumed from a high fish diet is completely different from the form found in the brains of those who were poisoned by mercury. What gives?

Jenny Smiechowski

Zinc: Too much or too little spells trouble

Zinc is one of those nutrients you don’t hear a lot about. People are all over vitamin C, but zinc, an equally important nutrient for a strong immune system tends to take a back seat to all the hype. But supplementing can be tricky…

Carolyn Gretton

This could be why your blood pressure medicine isn’t working

About 20 percent of people with high blood pressure are resistant to treatment, leaving them vulnerable to heart attack and stroke. Researchers trying to get to the bottom of why are onto something…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

New study shows 3 ways eggs benefit your heart

Remember how for years, doctors warned us not to eat eggs? They would raise our cholesterol, give us heart disease and leave us to die of a heart attack or stroke? Forget that old-school advice. The new-school lists three ways eggs do a heart good…

Joyce Hollman

8 skills that can help you be a happier caregiver

Caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s is unlike any other stressor. It has multiple layers, and it’s not like you can wait to deal with the physical strain while you’re taking care of the way it affects every other aspect of your life, including depression. But there’s help in these eight skills…

Craig Cooper

5 foods to secretly boost HIS sex drive

If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and the way to your heart is through the bedroom, then the way to satisfy both is also through his stomach. Your husband can achieve a stronger sex drive and better sexual performance by eating these five foods…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This morning brain boost keeps you sharp all day

As we age, cognitive problems can start to creep in… and no one wants to see that happen. But one of the areas that can become especially challenging is decision making. Yet, the decisions we make in later life can substantially affect our finances, our health, and our independence. This can help…

Joyce Hollman

3 well-being factors that make your golden years golden

It seems that the relationship between exercise and well-being, both physical and emotional, travels in both directions. Those who exercise are happier, healthier and more emotionally stable. But there are three well-being factors that fuel that drive from the start — and they make all the difference…

Jenny Smiechowski

The plant-like growth in your private area that causes major pain

Let’s say you start feeling a little itchy in your lady parts. You figure you have a yeast infection, buy an antifungal like Monistat and call it a day. But when the itching doesn’t stop you take a closer look. And you notice strange white patches taking over your nether regions. What the heck is happening?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The best walking exercise to kick bone loss to the curb

Without enough estrogen, cells known as osteoblasts aren’t able to make new bone tissue at the level necessary to keep your bones strong. But what you may not know though is that after menopause there’s something that can raise your chances of ending up with weak bones even more — diabetes.

Joyce Hollman

If you have migraines, this stroke syndrome may be next

You’ve probably heard about the dangers of metabolic syndrome. Low levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), fat around the waistline, insulin resistance, hypertension and chronic inflammation are its hallmarks. But there’s a curious relationship between this stroke syndrome and migraines, too…

Jenny Smiechowski

The smoothie ingredient that could make you gain weight, spoil your mood, and shorten your life

Protein powders aren’t always as healthy as they seem. In fact, new research shows that one popular protein powder ingredient could make you heavier, crankier and shorten your lifespan if you use it too much.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

What to eat for better skin

When I ask my patients what goal they have for their health, most say they want to feel — and look — better. People who feel better naturally look better. But are there foods you should be consuming to directly improve the appearance of your skin? The answer is… yes!

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The shocking truth about how much more Americans pay for medicine

In the U.S. it’s not uncommon to find a medication you’ve been prescribed costs as much as a decent car payment. What’s crazy is that people in other areas of the world don’t pay even close to what we’re charged. So why are Americans charged more and how do our costs compare to the rest of the world?

Joyce Hollman

The breast cancer survivor’s diet

About 41,400 women will die of breast cancer in the coming year. As the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women, it’s no wonder research efforts are ongoing and intense. The possibility that dietary choices influence whether a woman will get breast cancer has been a large part of that research…

Jenny Smiechowski

Fact or fiction: Fruit juice can shorten your life faster than soda

Consuming too many calories without enough nutrients is exactly why so many people end up with diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other health issues. But what about high-sugar beverages that do contain beneficial nutrients? Are they just as bad? Let’s see what the research found…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The forever chemicals contaminating your drinking water

Perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAs, are quickly becoming notoriously dangerous. One big reason is that unlike other chemicals, including PCBs, they don’t degrade. Another is they’re showing up in bloodwork, causing thyroid and fertility problems, liver disease, high cholesterol, cancer and more…

Dr. Michael Cutler

High fiber foods: The good and the bad

Fiber is one nutrient no one can afford to go without. Let’s look at the powerful health benefits of high fiber food and which ones you’ll want to be wary of, the difference in soluble and insoluble fiber, how much you need for disease-prevention and the best high-fiber foods to get the job done…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why purple corn fights inflammation, obesity, diabetes and more

You’ve probably heard that corn causes inflammation, is hard to digest and is chock-full of GMOs. And there’s no denying that there are some downsides to corn. But here’s the thing… a new study shows that this colorful corn is an antioxidant powerhouse that fights disease…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The exercise that could save you from diabetic heart disease

The longer you live with diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar, the higher your risk of heart problems. But researchers have found another way you can protect your heart from the damage caused by blood sugar problems, without any necessary changes in your medication or diet…

Joyce Hollman

More proof that broccoli is a cancer slayer

I don’t know about you, but I find it comforting to know that for pretty much any disease, I can reduce my risks using food instead of dangerous drugs. But there’s one vegetable that stands out as a potent weapon against disease. And new research confirms the power of this “little green tree” to fight cancer…

Joyce Hollman

Why the Japanese eat seaweed daily (and you should, too)

Seaweed is a staple “superfood” of Japanese cuisine. So, let’s take the mystery and confusion out of how to eat seaweed, and help you start getting these nutritional benefits. Here are four varieties that every Japanese cook keeps in their pantry.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Walk this way to live up to 15 years longer

There are a lot of factors that go into determining how long you might live, including genetics. But two large studies have found that the speed at which you put one foot in front of the other could either cut your life short — or boost it by about 15 years…

Jenny Smiechowski

The new diabetes drug causing genital gangrene

Managing type 2 diabetes isn’t easy. Lifestyle changes may not work for everyone, but neither do medications, like metformin. That’s where secondary meds come in. But a recent study shows that a new class of drugs has a disturbing (albeit rare) side effect… A higher risk of flesh-eating genital infections.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What broccoli sprouts do for the brain that could treat mental disorders

A prescription for better brain chemistry may have just been discovered in the produce aisle. It affects the brain chemical glutamate, which is known for its role in sending messages between brain cells and has been linked to depression and schizophrenia. 100 percent natural, too!

Jenny Smiechowski

Try this smelly approach to kicking your cigarette habit for good

Smokers are a dying a breed. And I don’t mean literally (although, statistically smokers do die a lot sooner than non-smokers). I mean that fewer people are smoking today than ever. Yet there are still 40 million Americans who smoke. Go figure. If you’re having trouble kicking the habit, I bet you haven’t tried this…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The drugs that could cause dementia in men

With one in ten people already suffering from Alzheimer’s the statistics are already frightening. But, it might shock you to find out that if the problem wasn’t bad enough already, the drug companies have made it worse, at least for men who have been diagnosed with a certain cancer…

Jenny Smiechowski

Two common food additives that harden arteries

As you age, your blood vessels begin to stiffen. What you eat is a huge part of that unhealthy process. Two common additives hidden in your food could be making your arteries a heck of a lot harder.

Joyce Hollman

The drug-free pain therapy of the future is here

If you suffer from pain that won’t go away, you’ve probably tried everything to get relief. If only you could trick your body into not feeling the pain, right? Well, a new “brain hack” holds bright promise for being able to distract our brains so completely that pain isn’t even an issue…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

High blood pressure just might be optional

There’s a good argument that high blood pressure just might be optional. Turns out, for most of our evolution, humans ate diets containing less than a quarter teaspoon of salt a day, because we mostly ate plants. As a result, we evolved into salt-conserving machines. See the problem?

Jenny Smiechowski

The newly discovered brain disease that mimics Alzheimer’s

Nothing’s more devastating than getting diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Your doctor can’t offer much help. And you know it’s only a matter of time before you lose your memory and independence. But do you know what else stinks pretty bad? Getting incorrectly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Joyce Hollman

For strength, longevity and happiness, take a hike!

At first glance, walking and hiking may not seem that different. But the benefits of hiking are indeed measurably different from the benefits of a stroll around the block. Walking on flat terrain allows the body to just keep going without a lot of effort. But whichever you choose, there are benefits you can’t pass up…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Sitting is dangerous

Study after study has shown unequivocally that sitting too much is bad for our health. In fact, a sedentary lifestyle has been linked to everything from obesity and diabetes to heart disease and cancer. So, have all these warnings done what they’re meant to do? By that I mean, are people (you, too!) sitting less knowing the dangerous implications?

Dr. Michael Cutler

8 ways to save your thinning hair

If you’re not one to pay for expensive hair restoration treatments such as platelet rich plasma, low level laser light therapy, or hair transplant surgery, consider these remedies made using natural products right at home…

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